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Japan's Behind-the-Wheel Test: Gaimen Kirikae (Part 3)

Last updated: March 2026 — Costs and procedures reflect the Konosu Driver's License Center in Saitama. Your experience may vary at other centers. ⚠️ Disclaimer: This article is based on my personal experience at the Konosu Driver's License Center in Saitama. Requirements, procedures, and fees may vary by prefecture and are subject to change. Always confirm current details with your local driver's license center before attending. It's the morning of March 6, 2026, at 5:21 a.m. It has been almost ten months since I started the process of the gaimen kirikae. I went in thinking that I was going to be able to change my driver's license from a California one to a Japanese one in a day. Those days are long gone. Last September I asked ChatGPT, "What time should I go to the driver's license center in Konosu, Saitama?" I sat there watching that little orb pulse with full confidence that I was going to be driving by the end of that month. I found out ...
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Why Your Bank’s Exchange Rate Is Worse Than Google’s (And What You Can Do About It)

If you've ever looked up an exchange rate on Google before sending money abroad, you've probably felt that familiar sting of confusion: Why is my bank offering me a rate that's significantly worse? You're not imagining it. The difference is real, it's intentional, and it can cost you hundreds—even thousands—of dollars on larger transfers. The rate you see on Google isn't the rate you'll ever actually get from your bank, and understanding why reveals how international money transfers really work.
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How to Convert a U.S. Driver’s License in Japan Without Losing Your Mind Part 2 — The Written Knowledge Test

Last updated: March 2026 — This process is actively changing. Always verify current requirements with your prefecture's driver's license center. Three months had passed since my consultation with the officer at the Konosu Driver's License Center in Saitama. At the end of that appointment, he handed me a packet of documents with a slip of paper containing a QR code and one very clear instruction: do not take the packet apart .
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Feeding Stray Cats in Japan Was a Mistake I Learned the Hard Way

I have hated cats my entire life. And one of the things that used to annoy me was the idea that people loved an animal that was apathetic to their existence. They are selfish and they embody the exact opposite of what it means to be a human with purpose. It pisses me off just thinking about it.
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How I Finally Sent Money From Japan Without Bank Wire Headaches

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for Wise. If you sign up or send money through my link, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Last updated: March 2026 — Fees, exchange rates, and bank policies may change. Always verify current details before making a transfer. Transferring money from my U.S. bank account to my new Japan Post Bank account was one of the most frustrating things I have ever done—and it only worked because my Japanese manager at the time stood beside me and walked me through the process. It was one of my earliest encounters with Japanese bureaucracy and, in hindsight, a foreshadowing of the administrative friction I would repeatedly run into later.
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Why Japan Throws Beans at Demons: The Meaning of Setsubun

Last updated: March 2026 My wife and I walked into our local grocery store after its two-day New Year's break and immediately noticed something that made us both say 「早い」 (hayai / "so fast") in unison. Setsubun decorations were already going up. It felt similar to how Christmas decorations appear right after Halloween . That kind of seasonal whiplash is almost a preview of the chaos that comes with the holiday cycle.
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How to Use Trains in Japan: A Simple, Stress-Free Guide for First-Time Travelers

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Last updated: March 2026 — Prices and transit details may change. Always confirm before your trip. You're on the train platform. You check the sign where the orange line meets the blue one. Your maps app says the orange line turns into the blue line—but across the platform, another train arrives that looks eerily similar to the one you're on. The people around you don't react. Some calmly cross to the other train. Others stay put. No announcements. No panic. Am I on the right one?
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Living in Japan as an American Foreigner: Is It Hard or Worth It

An honest guide to what it's really like—from taxes and housing to identity and belonging—by a Syrian-American who's been here since 2017. Last updated: February 2026
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How to Spot Pork on Japanese Food Labels: Spotting Pork, Gelatin, and Common Allergens

Picture this: you're standing in a Japanese grocery store, holding a package of something that looks delicious. The problem? Every word on the label is in Japanese, and you have no idea if it contains pork, gelatin, or something else you need to avoid.   Whether you keep halal, keep kosher, or simply avoid pork for personal reasons, this moment will happen to you in Japan. It happened to me, too—more than once. The good news is that you don't need to be fluent in Japanese to protect yourself. You only need a small handful of kanji and katakana characters to spot pork and gelatin at a glance.  In this guide, you'll learn the key characters, see real examples from actual packages, and discover exactly where to look on labels so you can shop with confidence anywhere in Japan. Last updated: February 2026
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Is It Rude to Eat While Walking In Japan? Here’s What the Etiquette Says

The etiquette of eating while walking in Japan—and when it's actually okay. Last updated: February 2026 Angry sister eating ice cream Last April, my sister visited me in Japan for the first time. While showing her around Arashiyama Sengen Park, we grabbed some soft-serve from a nearby food truck. When I told her we shouldn't eat while walking and suggested sitting near the truck, she wasn't happy. She spent the rest of the trip pointing out people eating and walking—making sure to note whether they looked Japanese.
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